Achmed Loc: Dearborn, MI

I am new with photography and have just a Canon Rebel with a small zooming lens. I like to make the landscape photographs and also like making pictures of the people in my city on our streets. I am building a small budget for another lens maybe two. I will have about $300 for spending. Which lens should I look for?

twowindsbear

What is the lens that you DO have? You really should say, so people won't tell you to buy the same lens.

My WAG is to use the lens you have, learn how to get all it is capable of doing for you while you expand your budget and learn what YOU need rather than what folks here THINK you may need.

Good luck!

ballsafire Loc: Lafayette, Louisiana

Get yourself a Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 lens (abt. $50) and a Canon EF-S 10-18mm lens.

Linda From Maine Loc: Yakima, Washington

One way to stretch your budget is to purchase used equipment from a reputable company. I have purchased a couple of used lenses from B&H in New York City (free shipping, no tax).

Several on the first page of their current inventory (sorted by Canon only, low price to high) would work nicely for both landscape and street photography. See at the below link:

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/search?Ns=p_PRICE_2%7c0&ci=10209&setNs=p_PRICE_2%7c0&N=4036297804+4291570227&srtclk=sort

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Bultaco Loc: Aiken, SC

camerapapi Loc: Miami, Fl.

For portraits you will need a medium tele and a wide angle for landscape photography. Usually lenses in the 80-100mm range are used for portraits. Wide angles for landscapes will vary with the taste and experience of the operator. Cameras with a crop factor do well with the 18mm focal length. Street photography can be done with a moderate wide angle, like an equivalent 35mm lens in full frame or a 50mm lens.
I am in total agreement that you should learn and explore the capabilities of the lens you are using now. Eventually your present lens will teach you exactly what you need based on the most frequent focal lengths you will be using.

amfoto1 Loc: San Jose, Calif. USA

I'd be willing to bet that you got an EF-S 18-55mm lens with your camera.

A very affordable lens that's great for landscapes, among other things, is the Canon EF-S 10-18mm IS STM.... At about $280 it's a real bargain for an "ultrawide".

For "street photography" the 18-55mm might be very good. Or, you might consider an ultra compact, slightly wide "normal" such as the Canon EF-S 24mm f2.8 STM ($150), or short telephoto such as the EF 40/2.8 STM "pancake" ($180), or a slightly larger but faster (larger aperture) Canon EF 50/1.8 STM ($125).

All the prices I quoted are for new lenses at B&H Photo in NY. Adorama, Amazon and others offer the same. I think all these are slightly discounted with instant rebates right now. Not sure for how much longer.

To save a little, you might check out the Canon online store, where they sell refurbished lenses at some discount: https://shop.usa.canon.com/shop/en/catalog/lenses-flashes/refurbished-lenses#facet:&productBeginIndex:0&orderBy:11&pageView:grid&minPrice:&maxPrice:&pageSize:&. Often those refurbs are simply demo units or overstock, little difference from brand new. In fact they have the same warranty as new, too. However, stock comes and goes quickly there so you may need to be patient.... and there may be shipping costs off-setting the discounts to some extent. (B&H, Adorama, Amazon may have free shipping and tax free, depending upon where you live.)

amfoto1 Loc: San Jose, Calif. USA

Yes, you can find the discontinued EF 50/1.8 II fairly cheap used.... But the newer, current EF 50/1.8 STM is a better lens: It has faster, quieter and more reliable autofocus and a 7-blade aperture that makes for nicer background blur effects than the 5-blade aperture on the older version.

ballsafire Loc: Lafayette, Louisiana

Yes - you are right! I made a mistake (old age), I had a Yongnuo 50mm f/1.8 in my subconscious mind a clone of the EF 50mm 1.8 II.

imagemeister Loc: mid east Florida

Sigma 17-70mm f2.8-4 Contemporary - get a good used one !

Photocraig

The Sigma 17-70 C is my stand by very sharp, fast general usage lens from landscapes, to street to portraits and it has very close focusing @ 70mm. And it is a bargain! With f2.8 to f4 aperture it gets the job done! And affordable, even new.

LoneRangeFinder Loc: Left field

Once you settle on a general range I would visit KEH for used lenses. There are several WA zooms, just slightly more than $300.00. KEH is generally quite generous in their ratings. They would be my "go to" for used gear, if I couldn't find it locally.

Achmed Loc: Dearborn, MI

Thank you each so very much for taking time to give advice! This has been very helpful.